Ohio University honors outstanding faculty for teaching, research and leadership

Ohio University celebrated exceptional faculty members during the Faculty Recognition and Awards Ceremony on April 5.

During the evening, award winners were recognized in a wide range of categories. Faculty members were recognized for teaching and research excellence, leadership and service as mentors.

Awards presented included the honors for University Professor, Presidential Research Scholars, Chairs and Directors Emerging Faculty Leadership,  Faculty Newsmakers, Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Presidential Teacher Award.

“All our honorees and winners have something in common – they are devoted to excellence in what they do, and do their best to serve our University community,” said Katie Hartman, vice provost for faculty development. “My thanks to all Ohio University faculty for their tireless efforts and commitment to Ohio University.”

University Professor Award

 
The University Professor Award recognizes outstanding teaching at Ohio University. Undergraduate students bestow the honor of University Professor on full-time, tenure-track or instructional faculty each year. Winners of the award then have the freedom to develop and teach a course of their choosing during the following academic year.

The winners of the 2023-24 University Professor Award are:

• Andrew Pueschel, Assistant Professor in Marketing, College of Business
• China Billotte Verhoff, Assistant Professor in Interpersonal Communication, Scripps College of Communication
• Ryan Fogt, Professor in Geography and Meteorology, College of Arts and Sciences

The finalists for the 2023-24 University Professor award also included:

• Dan Dahlen, Associate Professor of Instruction in Marketing, College of Business
• Gary Edward Holcomb, Professor in African American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
• Alan Wu, Associate Professor of Instruction in Education Studies, Patton College of Education

Presidential Teacher Award

The Presidential Teacher Award recognizes excellence in teaching and academic pursuits both inside and outside the classroom, as acknowledged by peers and students.

The winner of the 2023 Presidential Teacher Award is Neil Littell, Associate Professor in Project Management Programs, Russ College of Engineering and Technology

This year’s finalists also included:

• Lonnie Welch, Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Russ College of Engineering and Technology
• Rachel Terman, Associate Professor in Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences

Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes excellence in teaching and meritorious academic pursuits both inside and outside the classroom, as acknowledged by peers and students.

The winner of the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching is Paul Shovlin, Assistant Professor of Instruction for the Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences.

This year’s finalists also included:

• Leah Sheridan, Professor of Instruction for the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Christina Wright, Associate Professor of Instruction for the Department of Sports Administration, College of Business.

Chairs and Directors Emerging Faculty Leadership Award

The Chairs and Directors Emerging Faculty Leadership Award recognizes outstanding probationary, tenure-track faculty who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their department/school, college, and/or the broader university community. 

The winner of the 2023 Chairs and Directors Emerging Leadership Award is Dr. Edmond Chang, Assistant Professor in the English Department in the College of Arts and Sciences

MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success 

The MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success recognizes one full-time faculty member from each MAC institution each year who has shown a dedication to student success and inclusion.

Ohio University’s winner of the 2023 MAC Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success is Danielle Feeney, Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Teacher Education for the Patton College of Education.

Presidential Research Scholars

The Presidential Research Scholars awards program recognizes faculty members who have garnered national and international prominence in research, scholarship, and creative activity, and who demonstrate clear promise for continued, significant productivity in their scholarly endeavors.  Selection is highly competitive.

For the Arts and Humanities category, the winners are:

• Neil W. Bernstein, Professor of Classics and Religious Studies, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Katherine Jellison, Professor of History, College of Arts and Sciences.

For the Life and Biomedical Sciences category, the winners are:

• Ronan Carroll, Associate Professor of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences.
• Patrick O’Connor, Professor of Neuroscience and Anatomy, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Faculty Newsmakers

Since 2015, University Communications and Marketing has honored hundreds of OHIO faculty for the exemplary work they do to elevate the University at local, state, national and global levels through media coverage of their research and subject matter expertise.

In the calendar year 2021, which was celebrated during the evening, 221 faculty members from every college and regional campus were featured in 2,300 media reports from all over the world.

The Top Five Faculty Newsmakers are:

• Dr. Lisa Harrison, Interim Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies Professor, Patton College of Education
• Robert Foehl, Esq., Executive in Residence in Business Law and Ethics and Director, One-Year Master of Business Administration Program, College of Business
• Dr. Katherine Jellison, Professor of History, College of Arts and Sciences
• Dr. David Ridpath, Professor of Sports Administration and Director, Double Degree Program – Germany, College of Business
• Dr. Ellie McNutt, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Medical Anatomy, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Emerging Leader Academy

In September 2022, Ohio University launched its first Emerging Leader Academy, which is a year-long peer-led faculty development program for early and mid-career faculty interested in becoming academic leaders. The academy included 13 participants and 3 leaders.

The three Emerging Leader Academy leaders are:

• Mick Andzulis, O’Bleness Associate Professor and Chair, College of Business
• Char Miller, Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Dwan Robinson, Associate Professor, Patton College of Education

The 13 Emerging Leader Academy participants are:

• Tahnee Andrew, Associate Director of Nursing/Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Sherleena Buchman, Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Sandy Chen, Professor, Patton College of Education
• Karen Coschigano, Associate Professor, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Mashawna Hamilton, Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Ryan Johnson, Assistant Professor, College of Business
• Chang Liu, Professor, Russ College of Engineering and Technology
• Andrew Pueschel, Assistant Professor, College of Business
• Janet Simon, Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Bärbel Such, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Sarah Webb, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Justin Wheeler, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Tao Yuan, Professor, Russ College of Engineering and Technology

MAC Academic Leadership Program

The participants from the 2022-23 Mid-American Conference Academic Leadership Development Program were also honored during the evening. 

The four Ohio University faculty members serving as the 2022-23 MAC-ALDP Leadership Fellows are:

• Joann Benigno, Associate Professor and Division Director, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health Sciences and Professions
• Danielle Dani, Professor and Chair, Department of Teacher Education, Patton College of Education
• Travis Davidson, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Finance, College of Business
• Edna Wangui, Professor and Chair, Department of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences

Mentor Leaders Learning Community

During the fall semester, Ohio University offered a university-wide faculty mentor development program for faculty seeking to develop their knowledge and skills to become effective peer mentors to other faculty. 

The learning community leaders were:

• Dwan Robinson, Associate Professor, Patton College of Education
• Dianne Gut-Zippert, Professor, Patton College of Education
• Peter Mather, Professor, Patton College of Education
• Beth VanDerveer, Associate Professor, Patton College of Education

The learning community participants were:

• Khurrum Bhutta, Professor, College of Business
• Hyeyoon Rebecca Choi, Associate Professor, Patton College of Education
• Karen Corcoran, Associate Professor of Instruction, Patton College of Education
• Purba Das, Professor, Scripps College of Communication
• Danielle Feeney, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Patton College of Education
• Tamarine Foreman, Associate Professor, Patton College of Education
• Muriel Gallego, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Brett Noel, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Coordinator of Online Master's in Curriculum & Instruction, Patton College of Education
• Laura Wentworth, Associate Professor of Instruction, Patton College of Education
• Risa Whitson, Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Jacqueline Yahn, Assistant Professor, Patton College of Education